To the editor:
Re: “Lifestyles of the rich and furious,” Feb. 21.
I read with interest and some amusement Allen Garr’s column on Nelson Skalbania and the Point Grey bike path.
Unfortunately it didn’t deal with the citizens who are not on millionaire’s row (with one billionaire): those who live north of Fourth Avenue between McDonald and Alma.
Council’s idea of extending the False Creek bike route around to Jericho Beach was a good one. The original option (block off Point Grey road from Macdonald to Alma to through traffic) looked good on paper but in practice it doesn’t work. It has created a real safety hazard when locals try to turn their cars left to go east on Fourth Avenue. They are going to work or downtown, not to a tennis club, and its a really dangerous turn.
Council should go back to their second option which was to permit one way traffic eastbound on Point Grey together with bike lanes on the other side of the street. Speed bumps could be put in.
Council and the park board are to be praised for their sober second thought on the Kits Point bike lane. They would do well to listen to the north of Fourth Avenue residents who now see how the original plan is working in practice (vs. the drawings in the community consultation meetings).
Someone could get really hurt if the plan continues to be built like this.
Ian Waddell,
Vancouver
